Wrench for waterproof watchcases



Junes,194s. M 'DE VRIES 2,442,920

WRENCH FOR WATERPROOF WATCH CASES Filed April 30, 1945 Fr 7T- 2: l BY ATTORNEY.

Patented .lune 8, i948 WRENCH FOR WATERPRQOF WATCHGASES i l Millard De Vries, Denver, Colo., assignor to Grville R. Hagans, Denver, Colo.

Application April 30, 1945, Serial No. 591,088

This invention relates to a wrench for removing the backs from water-proof watch cases.

The backs of water-proof watches are threaded into the cases and are provided with a wide variety of designs for engagement with various wrenches. Due to this wide variety of designs, it is necessary for a watch maker to carry a large number of different types of wrenches in order to open the diierent cases. l

The principal object of this invention is to provide a water-proof watch case wrench which will be adaptable for use `on all varieties of backs.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can be quickly and easily adjusted to suit any given back and which will be simple to use and positive in its operation.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description,

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the improved wrench for water-proof watch cases;

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross section, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, illustrate various types of case backs to which the improved wrench is adaptable.

In describing the construction and usefulness of the improved wrench, it is helpful to consider some of the various types of watch backs encountered by the modern watchmaker. In Fig. 4, a type is illustrated at I provided with counter-sunk wrench sockets II. Backs of this type, in some cases, have two of the sockets II positioned at 180 from each other. In other cases there are four of the sockets positioned at 90 from each other, as indicated in broken line at I2, in Fig. 4. A second style of watch back is illustrated at I3, in Fig. 5, provided with ilat wrench faces I4. In some cases, the faces I4 are positioned at 30 intervals, as illustrated, and in other cases they will be positioned at 45 intervals. In Fig. 6 another form of water-proof watch case back is illustrated at l= provided with square peripheral notches I6. In some cases these notches are spaced at 120 intervals, as

illustrated in solid line,

another form of water-proof case back is illustrated at I8 in Fig. 7 provided with semi-circular wrench notches I9 spaced at either 60 or 45 intervals. These are only illustrative `of a few of the various case-backs encountered by a watch` maker.

This improved wrenchis designed to handle all .about the opening 2| through which a plurality of radially positioned, threaded screw openings extends at 45 with the aXis of the frame so that their projected axes will intersect the projected axis of the frame member 20 at a common point and to one side lof the plane of themember 20. The upper bevel around the opening 2| and the similarly beveled side on the socket 22 provide flat surfaces on the lug portion 23 at right angles to the axis of the screw openings to facilitate drilling and tapping the openings.

One of these openings will be herein designated the basic opening 24. Two additional openings 25 are positioned around the lug portion 23 at 120 intervals from the basic opening 24 and three additional threaded openings 26 are positioned at intervals from the basic opening 24. These openings receive threaded studs 2l each of which is provided with a knurled head 28 and a pointed extremity 29.

For use on case backs such as illustrated in Fig. 5, having the faces I4 at 30 intervals, three of the studs 21 are used, one threaded into the basic opening 24 and one in each of the openings 25, as illustrated in Fig. 1, until they contact the faces I4 as indicated by the arrows A in Fig. 5. By relative rotation between the case and the frame 20, the back I3 may be screwed into or unscrewed from the case.

The three screws illustrated in Fig. 1 can also be applied to the notches I6 of Fig. 6 or the notches I9 of Fig. '7. Should the faces I4 or the notches I6 or I 9 be positioned at 45 angles, however, four of the threaded studs 21 are used, one threaded into the basic opening 24 and one in each of the openings 26 thus placing four studs at 90 intervals. They can then be used on any and in other'cases at 60*l intervals, as indicated in broken line at I1. Still case having Wrench engaging means at 45 intervals.

For use on a case such as illustrated in Fig. 4 having two of the sockets Il, the stud 21 in the basic opening 24 and another in the opposite opening 26 are adjusted until their points engage in the sockets Il. Thus, it may be seen that watch cases of any size and having any given number ofwren'chengaging means can be opened and closed by-use of the improved tool.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims,

without departing from the spirit of the'invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters'Patent is:

1. A wrench for unscrewing a back from a water-proof watch comprising: an annular frame havingtal central-opening larger than said back; inclined f threaded Hmembers' threaded through said-frame atan angle so thattheir axes will intersectiat a common-point on-the projected axis of saidf'ramevtoffone side of the plane thereof; 25

and pointedcxtremities formed on said threaded members for-engaging` said back, the incline of said threaded members acting to cause `said pointed extremitiesrto approach each other as the membersl are threaded .through said frame.A

2. A wrench comprising: a. circular, flat frame member; a plurality of inclined, threaded screw openings extending through said frame member about a lcommon axis, the axes of all of the openings intersecting said common axis at a common point to one side of said frame member; a plurality of threaded studs threaded through said openings and being directed towards said common point at `their one extremity at one'side of said frame member; points `formed on said latter extremities; and finger-engaging means formed on the other extremities of said studs at the other side of said frame member.

MILLARD DE VRIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following-'references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 316,427` Woodcock Apr. 21, 1885 748,923 Byrant Jan.` 5, 1904 873,009 Baxter Dec. 10,: 1907 874,543y Scheuer Dec. 24,*-1907 1,930,859 Munro Oct. 17,1-1933 2,389,954. Burns Nov. 27, 1945 

